APPENDIX. 348 
silence the zealots, and set Chile free at any expense. He commenced by 
dedicating his fortune (which was very considerable) with those of his relations 
and friends to the cause of independence, thereby supplying the defect of a 
public fund. He began to recruit for his army, paying to each soldier a 
premium on his entrance, as practised in European nations; a method never 
used in America but by him. From the most respectable citizens he selected 
officers ; who were indeed ignorant of all military knowledge, but whose cha- 
racters, probity, and well-known attachment to their country, made ample 
amends for all other defects. The regiments thus organized were well 
clothed, armed, regularly paid, and disciplined under his own immediate 
inspection. Carrera was colonel of the dragoon regiment of national guards, 
general inspector of cavalry, and commander-in-chief of the national forces. 
His elder brother, Don Juan Jose, was colonel of grenadiers, and commandant 
of all the infantry; and the youngest of the three, Don Luis, commanded a 
regiment of artillery which had garrisoned Santiago in the time of Ferdi- 
nand VIL. but had been prevailed on to espouse the cause of independence, 
and follow the banners of Chile.* 
It may be necessary to observe here, fie the general head-quarters of the 
Spanish troops in Chile has generally been in the province of Penco, the 
capital of which is Conception. The troops which were in that garrison in 
the beginning of the revolution, were Americans by a great majority; and 
were, by the liberality of’ the inhabitants of the town, and the promises of the 
American officers amongst them, easily prevailed on to revolt and deny all 
future allegiance to the Spanish monarch. Thus far the revolution was un- 
stained with blood; but a circumstance soon after occurred which menaced 
the country with the horrors of a civil war. The inhabitants of Conception 
asserted, that it was better adapted for the seat of government than Santiago, 
as it had a communication with the sea, and many local advantages favour- 
able to commerce, &c. &c. Carrera endeavoured. to convince them of the 
impropriety of such a measure; but finding that his arguments were not 
likely to dissuade them, he adopted other means. He opened a negociation 
with them; in which it was stipulated that the army of Conception, then 
encamped on the southern bank of the Maule, should not pass that river, 
nor that of Chile make any advance, during a certain time. Before the expir- 
* There were only fifty soldiers of any kind in Santiago before the revolution. This state- 
ment is very wrong. — M. G. 
